INDUSTRY NEWS

Pipeline engineering and construction leader China Petroleum Pipeline, along with distributor and logistics service provider North America Western Asia Holdings, recently announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement to jointly pursue potential energy sector development projects in Iraq.

USA Truck, Inc., a leading North American transportation and logistics provider, has completed a $170M senior secured revolving credit facility with a group of banks and Bank of America Merrill Lynch as agent.

Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management and supply chain solutions, recently announced that it will offer customers a female-friendly vehicle package for lease – the first of its kind in the industry.

Freightgate, a global provider of Best in Class Logistics Cloud Solutions, and Alliance International, one of North America's largest independently owned providers of global logistics and customs clearance services, working together have successfully deployed new capabilities in the Freightgate Universe Logistics Management Platform enhancing Shipment Collaboration and Container Utilization.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Business Solutions Retail IT VAR Of The Future Conference, May 12-13, at Bally’s Las Vegas, will present an in-depth look at four topics: POS-as-a-Service, mobile point of sale (POS), Payment Security and EMV, and customer experience.

A leader in the shortening and oils industry, Columbus Vegetable Oils chose Aerohive’s Cooperative Control wireless LAN solution for its new manufacturing and warehouse facility because of its superior security, reliability, manageability, and flexibility.

Oberto was founded in Seattle in 1918 by Italian immigrants and is the second largest producer of beef jerky in the nation. The company makes and markets more than 400 varieties of dried meat products, with annual revenue of $220M. It offers meat jerky in beef, pork, and turkey versions, as well as snack sausages. All these goodies are sold under the brand names Lowrey’s Meat Snacks, Pacific Gold Beef Jerky, and Oh Boy Oberto! Oberto also sells all-natural jerky using no preservatives or artificial flavors.

Voice technology has taken hold in a variety of work environments, but applications are particularly beneficial for warehouses. Businesses with warehouses use voice technology when picking stock, inventorying and replenishing stock, and improving customer service.

The introduction of new technologies is essential for efficiency in business today, but these technologies often impact he bottom line in ways that aren’t expected. Most large stores recently have an average of 60 wireless devices per store, ranging from barcode scanners and portable printers to handheld computers and mobile POS systems, all of which are critical for daily operations.

The role of chief information officers (CIOs) at consumer packaged goods companies historically has been to deliver efficient and unfailing systems at the least cost. Information technology has been viewed as a cost of business instead of a driver of strategy and a means for profitability and advancement. However, for Food & Beverage companies that need to support business growth and competitive differentiation, this approach is clearly antiquated.